1st Sep 2006, 18:13
I love my car.. but it's giving me a lot of headaches.. I have a 2001 Audi TT.. and it's been trouble from the start.
19th Jun 2007, 16:59
To be fair readers should understand that The timing belt failure at 77k was the owners own fault for not doing scheduled maintenance! A simple visual check could have avoided this failure and the belt usually gets noisy before it fails signaling its impending demise.
It is a shame to see these fine automobiles ruined by people that don't understand that there is more to owning a car than filling it with gas and just driving it.
Scheduled maintenance is required and is not cheap on these cars, but if done will provide a long and happy ownership experience. I own three Audi's the oldest of which is approaching 360k miles. Treat them well and they will treat you well.
29th Aug 2007, 20:46
The confusion came about because Audi suggested timing belt replacement at 105k miles. The customer is not a mechanic, he can only go by what Audi suggests. I have the TT quattro 2001. My timing belt snapped at 65k leading to head replacement, etc. Luckily I had bought a warranty so it only ran me around $1700 counting all expenses (hotel room, etc.)
24th Oct 2007, 12:46
I'm looking at picking up a 2001 Audi TT. From what I am reading, I'm not sure I want to. It's 2001 with 82k on it. Not bad. I love the way they look and with the all wheel drive, it should handle well here in Alaska.
Any suggestions?
26th Jan 2008, 11:01
Yes, ours has been great. '01 TT 225hp and 97000kms. like the other comments, it's more than just fill up with gas and drive. you must pay attention to the vehicle much like your love ones.
27th Mar 2008, 18:45
Dude, You HAVE to replace timing belts before they break. This is a German car - not American.
Break a belt - and you can ruin the engine.
While you are there, replace ALL tensioners AND the water pump.
My Porsche 944 and my Audi 4000 require this as does the TT.
My mechanic recommends every 40k miles.
3rd Apr 2008, 22:03
Owning a Audi TT, COSTLY MISTAKE ehh??? I can see why!! You have been AudiTTed by the IRS----I mean the Audi dealer! hehe eh! (LOL)
5th Apr 2008, 11:42
I agree with the reviewer. That is a huge list of problems on a low mileage vehicle. I would not blame the previous owner of the vehicle. I have never trusted the reliability of Audi cars.
1st Jun 2008, 23:06
For those of us who don't really know, could someone please explain how to recognize if the timing belt needs replacement? Also I understand that there are newer after market belts available which are much better quality than the originals. How does one know if you're getting an original or an after market? Thanks, I appreciate the help!
21st Aug 2008, 21:15
The comment on the Audi TT timing belt reference to a visual inspection is wrong. You can look at the serpentine belt but the timing belt is internal. A lot of parts have to be removed/replaced to inspect this item. That is why a 275+ kit is needed.
The August 2008 court settlement in reference to the timing belt is all in favor of Audi unless the belt has failed. (Audi has better lawyers than engineers, it seems.) Audi will pay for belt failure damage. But all others must have this belt inspected, supposedly, free of charge IF THE BELT IS GOOD. Should the belt need to be replaced the consumer has to fork over 1,600 bucks for an improperly engineered/built belt that is supposed to last 100K. This is needed for the approved extended guarantee.
My car is getting inspected in two weeks. I am keeping my fingers crossed. As I would not be able to tell a good belt from a bad one, the potential for a rip off is quite high.
15th Dec 2008, 08:00
VW Passat owners are in the middle of a class action law suit against VW/Audi for exactly the same reason with the same engine, ie. premature timing belt failure on the 1.8t. It costs about half the labor just to inspect the belt as to replace it, and my VW mechanic insists you can't be sure by just looking that the belt will be fine. My dealer recommends 70k intervals, including tensioners, which is still 10k over most other car's 60k intervals...
15th Dec 2008, 21:00
My timing belt snapped at 200k in my 1980 Volvo 240 with no engine damage. Why can't they build bullet proof engines anymore. Volvo ran to 775k.
6th Feb 2009, 12:20
I think you will find that it is NOT the timing belt that is the problem, it is the water pump that has a plastic impeller that breaks up, jams the pump, which throws the belt or rips off the teeth. The tensioner, which is also part plastic, breaks up and again throws the belt. You cannot check these items.
Audi service at Nottingham UK state 60000 miles or 5 years, whichever is the sooner. Replace the belt, water pump with METAL impeller and upgraded tensioner if one is available.
13th Jul 2009, 03:26
With today high technology and sophistication, it is absurd that an expensive cars brand like Audi uses timing belt on their interference engines. It is common knowledge that non-interference engines may use timing belts, but interference engines have to use timing chains.
Audi is the most snobbish brand I know of: pure VW technology at very higher prices (mid level price technology at premium brand prices). It is shameful. And if I owned an Audi I would change the timing belt every 60,000kms (every 37,000 miles), just as effective prevention.
14th Jul 2009, 12:22
I bought my 2001 Audi TT (convertible), baseball leather interior, with approximately 30k miles on it. This auto has been grand fun to drive in Florida, and as a teacher students think it is pretty cool to see a teacher have a 'hot' car. I must confess that the repairs have been a bit rich for my blood, but I have enjoyed the car thoroughly (now has 145k miles). I have had some issues with tires on the vehicle, so far on the third set with Michelin Pilot lasting the best. How about the rest of you? Can anyone share about the tires... life length... how you drive...etc.?
27th Aug 2006, 14:45
I bought a 2001 TT 225hp a year ago with 50k miles on it. It came as a Certified Pre-Owned for 2 years or up to 100k miles.
Within the first week of owning it, my car's brake fluid was real low, the dealer just gave me a bottle of brake fluid and told me to fill it up.
Then the engine blew up on me in the beginning of January 2006. Took two weeks for them to replace the engine. While it was in there, the dealer (not the one I bought it from) found bolts missing off of the manifold, I called the dealer I bought this from and they would not answer my calls.
At the end of July this year, my clutch stopped working, found out because it was the clutch fluid was low and air got into the lines (same fluid res. as the brakes).
I'm now on my 5th week of speaking with Audi USA trying to get the CPO checklist from the dealer, since the dealer refuses to call me back and speak with me about all of the issues with this car. I'm in the process of talking with a lawyer about mis-representation of the CPO checklist (which I was never provided when I bought the car, which AUDI USA says I should have gotten).